Disclaimer

If you do not know me (I mean, really know me) then there is something you need to understand before you read this blog: I value the truth above everything else... except a good laugh. A good laugh will almost always beat the truth as far as I’m concerned. Everything you read on this blog will be true, somewhat true, or something I made up in an effort to get a laugh. Sometimes I will go on a rant that I don’t really mean (or only kind of mean). Sometimes I will mean what I write only to completely change my mind a year, month, or day later. Such is life. By reading this blog you agree not to get offended by anything I write (or, at the very least, you agree not to tell me or anyone else that you are offended). It is worth noting that my employer does not endorse my blog (or even read it, to tell you the truth). The Wife also does not endorse my blog (though she will read it from time to time). I am not paid to write this... it’s just my way of giving back to the community. I have, and will, touch on a wide range of subjects and will give my opinion on these subjects. Again, most of what I say is for laughs but every now and then I will say what I really think and feel (see my views on Westboro Baptist Cult). How will you know when I’m serious and when I’m trying to get a laugh? You’ll know. And if you don’t know, well... maybe this isn’t the best thing for you to be reading. So, sit back, read and enjoy. Leave comments if you want and don’t be afraid to publicly follow me.

For meritorious service under fire on the occasion of the landing of the American naval forces at Vera Cruz on 21 April 1914. C.G. Semple was then attached to the U.S.S. Florida as a chief turret captain.

I have said this before, but it is worth saying again… When you list the greatest Cubs players of all time, there’s Ernie Banks. That’s it, that’s the list. Oh, there are other great players (my all-time favorite is Ryne Sandberg… and who doesn’t love Andre Dawkins?), but Ernie Banks is by far #1. You could argue where other players would fall on the list but you can’t, with any sort of credibility, not have Ernie Banks at #1. You can easily look up stuff on Ernie Banks, so I won’t list his stats here. I will tell you he is a member of the MLB All-Century Team and he is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The fact that he only received 83.8% of the vote shows, to me, that 16.2% of the people voting on the Hall of Fame back then were just as stupid as some of the people voting on it today.

One reason I think Ernie Banks is so loved, is that he seemed to be the kind of professional baseball player we all like to think we’d be. I think everyone, at one time or another, has thought “Man, how great would it be to get paid to play a game?” Ernie Banks was the same way. I guess I should say “seemed to be the same way”, because I didn’t know him. But I can say I have yet to read anything about someone not liking Mr. Cub. He had a positive attitude and a love for the game that can’t be faked… at least, it can’t be faked for as long as he had it. He loved the game so much, that he was well known for saying, “It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame… Let’s play two!”

Sadly, Ernie Banks passed away this past Friday. The way life is, I’m sure this really will be the season The Cubs win the World Series. Why not? Now that the greatest Cubbie of them all won’t be here to enjoy it…